| President Yvonne Vincent Archive |
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February 2023Hello 1753 Union Family, Thank you to everyone who participated in our local election of 1st Shift Committee, Trustee, C.A.P. Chair and Recreation Chair, voters, and election committee. The new election of 1st Shift Alternate Committee and Recording Secretary is coming, with nominations Feb. 23 and 28 and voting Mar. 7. Please look for a posting in this paper and in the Plant. The run-off election for the International Executive Board Positions is also coming to an end. Please vote and mail your ballot by Feb. 18. Who you vote for is very important. This is a negotiation year. You should save money from your profit share and monthly from now on because a strike in the near future is very likely. Our national contract ends Sept. 15, 2023, so please be prepared. The best way to do that is to start thinking ahead NOW. We gave up so much in 2008 and need to gain it back. The tier system heavily contributes to members not being in solidarity and other concessions that were given up like job security and retiree health care contribute to the division. This is the time/year to gain it back! We have seen year after year that GM has made billions in North America alone and that their gains far outweigh ours. We have a Labor-friendly U.S. President and Senate and Michigan politicians that support the UAW in high state-wide offices. Support is very important in negotiations. This is another reason it is important to vote. Voting in Union elections, local elections, state elections and national elections makes your voice heard and very important in the count of who is in office. Educate yourself on the candidates and vote Labor-friendly, Union-strong. Labor leader A. Philip Randolph is a name we should all know. Starting in 1925, he led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters to become a recognized Union by the Pullman Car Company (their employer), the American Federation of Labor and the U.S. government. After this 12-year-struggle, he continued to fight against racism in the workplace throughout the heydey of the Civil Rights and Labor movements. Randolph was also instrumental in the work of the Southern Farmers’ Tenant Union, which represented agricultural laborers and sharecroppers under the leadership of Harry L. Mitchell. In order to demand justice, better working and living conditions and fair profit shares, the farmers staged public demonstrations and protests throughout the 1930s. Their collective struggle resulted in the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, which provided programs to assist migrant workers and low-interest loans to farm tenants, laborers and sharecroppers. This allowed more African-Americans to gain control of their own lives, rise out of poverty, own their own farms and live more liberated lives. It is important to educate yourself on the Labor icons who paved the way for our current Labor victories – not just during Black History month, but all year long. One way to do this is to read, learn and reflect on the information that has been hidden from us by our schools, religious institutions, government agencies and popular culture. I recommend subscribing to a daily email blast like “Anti-Racism Daily”. They are currently doing a special blog called, “28 days of Black History.” You can sign up at the-ard.com Another way to get a quick hit of useful information on a regular basis is by checking out the Civil Rights column on the standing committee board outside of the cafeteria. In February, I have been sharing daily snippets from “28 Days of Black History.” Lastly, our first Game Night at the Union Hall in January was a success! There was a lot of laughter, a good amount of friendly competition and even some surprises as we learned who had skills we never knew about! We are planning for the next one in March or April and hope you all will come again. Keep an eye on the Union standing committe board for details on the date and time. Remember, active members are the most educated members. In solidarity, Yvonne Vincent December 2022Hello 1753 Union Family, Happy holidays. While this is a joyful time for many people to spend with the ones they love, remember that for some folks, this time of year is a struggle. Please be sensitive to the different ways we all experience this season. Remember to take some time to look at the posting for information about our Local 1753 upcoming elections for the unexpired term in this edition of the Lansing Labor News. You can also find postings in the plant and at our Union Hall. Additionally, keep an eye out in mid-January for a possible ballot to vote in a run-off election for our UAW International Executive Board. As I am writing this column, the results have not yet been officially decided, but it is likely that many of the races will require a run-off, since a candidate must receive a majority (not just a plurality) to win. If this election does require a run-off of any of the candidates, and you do receive a run-off ballot, it should be returned before the end of February. I hope that you voted in the Union election in November, as well as in the U.S. mid-terms. Both of these play a big role in the lives of GM and UAW workers.. As you can see, our elected officials have played a huge role in the recent railroad workers’ fight for basic benefits, such as sick leave, safe conditions, disciplinary attendance, hiring, work-life balance, and salary. If the workers lose this battle, it jeopardizes all of our Unions. When politicians prioritize the corporation’s billions of dollars in profits over the dignity of workers, we all lose. Speaking of jobs and benefits, GM is taking strides to be more innovative with the introduction of SEEGRID machines, which pull trains throughout the plant. These machines are predicted to replace the jobs of the human workers who currently do this task in GM plants. While the machines are not going away and jobs will continue to be eliminated by technological advances, the people who work in our plant also contribute to job losses. When one employee does the work of others, or takes on extra duties outside of their classification or current assignment, this provides management with the rationale to merge job titles and cut back on hiring. This also undermines the work of the bargaining team to advocate for job classifications and assignments that are sustainable and fair. When Union workers do more work without being compensated, it results in a defacto wage cut for all of us. Protect our right to an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay by doing only the jobs assigned to you under your classification! “Favors” for the management team or the corporation disrespects the legacy of the Union members who have fought hard to ensure that we are not overworked and underpaid (like the railroad workers!). This has been a long and hard fight – and it is one we must continue to fight. And on the subject of hard-won fights, one of our greatest allies in the fight to ensure workers’ rights is the National Labor Relations Board, which enforces the agreements Unions like ours enter into with industries. Without this oversight, corporations and managers would be able to completely ignore the rights of workers. The NLRB was established by the National Labor Relations Act to enforce Labor laws related to collective bargaining and to investigate unfair Labor practices. Since 2014, the funding for the NLRB has remained static, meaning that there are fewer resources and fewer staff available and yet, petitions to form a Union increased by 58% in the first half of 2022. Reports of unfair Labor practices also rose by 18%. The NLRB is one of the only agencies with the weight of the law behind them that can combat crimes like retaliation, harassment, intimidation, Union-busting and bad faith bargaining. Take a moment to tell Congress to fund the NLRB with the full $368 million it needs for its budget. For more information, you can go to https://aflcio.org/pro-act. For a fun and entertaining way to learn more about the NLRB and how it defends worker rights, check out the Factually! Podcast with Adam Conover and guest Jennifer Abruzzo. You might remember Adam from his TV series, “Adam Ruins Everything”. As we look forward to 2023, we are fortunate to have our chairperson, Arniece Stephenson, bargaining for the CCAs in the upcoming national contract. So to help get the best National contract we can, I am going to reiterate to Vote for people who are knowledgeable and will actually back the union members. Only do your job assignment as it is outlined in the Job Element Sheet. Start saving money in case we have to do whatever we have to, to get what we deserve/ is fair. Remember that the union is everyone, so do not do things that are Self Serving and go against the contract or other members. I am hoping we all have a prosperous and productive new year. in Solidarity, Yvonne September 2022Hello Union Family! We need to get hyped up! The Constitutional Convention has concluded and International Executive Board mail communications will be in October. Who you choose is very important. The International Executive Board covers a lot of diverse occupations. The people running have to be knowledgeable in a lot of fields. Having experience in negotiations, I Believe, would be very vital for the IEB positions. Please vote wisely. Also Midterm Elections are of the utmost importance. There is a list of candidates in this paper that your UAW CAP delegates have interviewed and strongly support. These candidates have spent time fighting on behalf of our Union and for Labor. Some of these candidates have spent extra time hearing from our members and leaders. I am asking you to please support these candidates that support us and our values. Having a State House and Senate that are both democratic can help un-table some of the proposed bills that affect a lot of our members. Also there are a lot of Important issues that are proposed to be on the ballot so please vote! Get hyped because now is the time that we can make a big difference, in a good way. Please help these UAW supported candidates win. If you need a reason why to choose a certain one, myself or our local Cap chair, Jeremy Jackson, can help answer your questions. So please educate yourselves on Candidates and the midterm proposals. Also, please, please look at our in plant communication boards. Yvonne March 2022Hello 1753 Brothers and Sisters, As February is soon ending, I hope you have taken part in African-American History Month in some way. We have a diverse country and a diverse plant. Education is key to building a better, more harmonious future. Most TV stations make some effort for easy access to a history lesson/story that would help grow our understanding of and connection to others. On the service committee board at work, located across from the cafeteria, the civil rights committee will continue to post educational things that have to do with the current national history month topic. Please take a moment to stop by and read the communication provided the committees there! One of the suggestions for this month is the podcast “1619” by the New York Times. This would be helpful for most Americans to educate themselves about our history and issues of equity. Equity and equality is something that Representative Elissa Slotkin is trying to achieve with her work in the US Congress. She was kind enough to stop by our local Union hall on Feb. 11, 2022, and listen to members’ thoughts and concerns. Some topics of her platform and backed by her voting record, are pro-Union initiatives, Social Security protection, and access to health care services for limited-income households. She will need our help as Elissa Slotkin is running for re-election – this time in the newly formed 7th District, that will now cover all of Ingham, Eaton, Livingston, Clinton and Shiawassee counties, as well as small portions of Genesee and Oakland counties. She stood by our side during our 2019 strike, and helped bring relief to our fellow UAW workers at Sparrow Hospital this month. Please keep this in mind for the August 2, 2022, primary and November 8, 2022, General Election. March is International Women’s History Month, so keep an eye out for opportunities to learn about and support the women who are leading the charge to create a better world for all of us. In solidarity, December 2021Hello 1753 Brothers and Sisters, I would like to start this month’s column with a thank you to all of those who participated in the national referendum vote. I do not yet have the results of the “One Member One Vote” question, but you should know that you have made your voices heard. As this is the season of giving, I also want to thank all the donors to our Toys for Tots campaign, which raised $1,708. I have yet another thank you, to all who gave to the Old Newsboys, who provide vouchers for shoes, boots and socks for kids. We collected $925 this year, which is even more than in 2020. We do only two organized collections like this each year, so it is greatly appreciated by our partner organizations. Both of which serve children in under-resourced communities. Participation is key to a better union, whether it is raising up your voice for justice, or giving to those in need. Another important aspect of participation is EDUCATION. An educated workforce builds a stronger union, just an educated citizenry builds a stronger society. As a member of a democracy, you must be informed about the issues and the candidates to ensure your vote and your actions support your values. It is the same with our workplace – being educated about the issues allows you to vote and act according to your own priorities. Using your vote, voice and actions to protect yourself and others is key to a strong Union where all people are valued. Being your Union President as well as a member of the civil rights committee, I strongly encourage everyone to go to www.workplacebullying.org and click on the tab, “Help for Bullied People”. Go to the button that reads, “If Bullied, Start Here.” That will bring you to a video called “Introduction to Workplace Bullying.” It is not only educational, but a very interesting overview of this critical issue. The video is about an hour-and-a-half long. If this piques your interest, I would like to invite you to learn even more on this topic with me at the Union Hall. We will take a deep dive into this with the Workplace Bullying Institute from 11a-8p on Jan. 8, 9, 22 and 23, 2022 (via webinar). There will be a one-hour break each day, but we know that is quite a commitment of time, so we will be offering raffle prizes of gift cards and other surprises each day, as well as light refreshments. You are also welcome to bring your own food and drink. The sessions are free, but we ask that you RSVP by Jan. 3, 2022, by emailing me at UAW1753@gmail.com or just letting me know in person. General membership meetings are key to being an active and informed Union participant. Please come to our next one on Jan. 19 at 2:15p. You may attend via Zoom (check Union info board for details) or in person at the Union Hall, as long as you are masked. In the meantime, enjoy your holidays. Whether you celebrated Hanukkah or will be celebrating the Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, the calendar New Year, Chinese New Year or even Festivus, remember to STAY SAFE when spending time with loved ones. The last “gift” you want to receive this year is a new variant of a contagious disease. Be smart about where you go, who you spend time with and how you protect yourself. If you participated in the GM-provided vaccines in the spring, you are now eligible for a booster shot. While it is very difficult to schedule an appointment through local pharmacies or doctors right now, the military is at Ingham County Health Department offering all three vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) every Monday, Tuesday and Friday, from 9a-4p, with a one-hour break for lunch from 12-1 p.m. Anyone 5 or older is welcome, with no appointment or insurance needed. When I went after work on a recent Friday, there was no line and no wait! My wife had the same experience on a morning visit earlier in the week. The Omicron and other variants are no joke, and Michigan is still rated “Very High Risk” in the midst of our “indoor months”, which means viruses can more easily incubate all around us. When you immunize yourself against the virus, you make it less likely you will wind up sick, in the hospital or worse. Our Union Brothers and Sisters at Sparrow are locked in an extended battle with management over their contract and rights to humane working conditions, such as proper staffing, fair wages, manageable patient loads and working hours. Please consider and support them in their fight. If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, remember to buy AMERICAN and look for the UNION label. Solidarity means supporting our Brothers and Sisters across the country – and it also makes it more likely to get your purchases in time, since they won’t be stuck on a container coming from overseas. This is also a good time to be supporting and sending encouragement to the organizers at the Amazon plant in Alabama, where the federal government just ruled in favor of a re-vote. Amazon has spent millions of the dollars you send them on union busting tactics so extreme that the Justice Department demanded a total redo of the vote to unionize. Please remember that before you send any of your hard-earned money to Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos, who earns about $3,715 per SECOND. He uses this wealth to oppress workers’ rights, intimidate organizers and brainwash employees with lies about Unions. Amazon employees have zero job protections, no voice in their workplace, mandatory overtime at the will of managers and limited benefits. (Don’t believe the hype in their commercials.) Grab your wallet and spend wisely! Don’t forget to look at your Union information boards each week in front of the cafeteria, west gate and rail dock gate. In solidarity, September 2021Hello 1753 Brothers and Sisters, By now you should have received a prepaid postcard in the mail asking for your correct address. You should write, “Yes, correct” or correct the address (if it was forwarded to you) and mail it back to the Union Hall. The postcards that get returned to us we know are not correct and will attempt to find out why. It is the responsibility of the Member to ensure their address is correct with the Union Hall. General Motors does not inform the Union if you update your address with them. Having a correct address on record is important because a referendum election will be coming this Fall. It will determine how the UAW International Executive Board is elected. If it stays the Delegate System way, then the person you voted to be the Constitutional Delegate will represent the plant and its interests.. If you choose Direct Election, then it will be each Member, who will be able to vote on who is on the International Executive Board. If you choose Direct Election, it will be up to you as Members to educate yourself on all nominated parties. Just like in any other election, don’t vote for “Anna Whoever” or “Dave Whoever” just because you have an Aunt Anna or a neighbor named Dave who you like. The IEB is very important in national negotiations and growing Membership. This can mean gaining jobs or reducing jobs for us here in 1753. Speaking of jobs, your actions in the plant can also be considered in this. Are your actions eliminating jobs? For example, do you violate seniority rules when it benefits you? Or are you following the proper process that protects everyone? Does the fact that something takes longer to do right mean you don’t do it right? Having management do part of your job description because it's easier, or “it doesn’t matter” is a self-defeating way of thinking and can easily end up in a cut of someone’s position, including yours. If you think your Union is weak - do you stick together in your department or just look out for yourself? How engaged are you in Union meetings, standing committees or calling your committee person if you see something wrong/questionable? Do you give your Bargaining Team a heads-up if something is now changed in your department? All these things lead to a stronger Union, solidarity and job security. If you would like to gain more Union Knowledge, free classes are being offered the entire month of September through the Region.. The classes offered are posted on the Union Information Boards in the Plant. Please let Yvonne know if you are interested in taking any of the classes. They are available at your convenience through zoom, but the union must register you. Our September General Meeting is scheduled for 9/22/21, 2:15 p.m. on Zoom. Info to call in or log on is posted on the Union info board in the plant. Make your voice heard. In solidarity, May 2020Hello Brothers and Sisters, May is Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Are you aware of the many AAPI folks who have led labor movements in the United States? One of the biggest names in Union organizing today is Ai-Jen Poo, who founded Domestic Workers United, and has been central in getting legislation passed to ensure basic protections for its workers. However, the influence of Asian-Americans on labor causes dates back to the early years of our country, when much of our infrastructure was built with the exploited labor of Chinese-Americans. Many major movements to create better working conditions have been led by Americans of Filipino, Taiwanese and Chinese heritage in industries as diverse as agriculture, commercial fishing and canning, healthcare, the public sector, property services, banking, higher education, shipping, social services, transportation, manufacturing, technology and hospitality. Some, such as Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo, have even given their lives trying to make their Union stronger. Viernes and Domingo, both Filipino-American, were shot down outside their Union hall in Seattle in 1981 while trying to lead reform efforts. So, what can YOU do to make your Union stronger? “A Union is an organization formed by workers who join together and use their strength to have a voice in their workplace. Unions also have an important role in making sure that management acts fairly and treats its workers with respect.” - Michigan State Employees Association This being the definition, your Union is only as strong as you make it. If you are only looking out for yourself, then you are hurting the strength of your Union. If you think cozying up to management will help you, you are hurting the strength of your Union. If you fail to educate yourself on the local/national contracts and Union functions, then you are hurting the strength of your Union. Management will not hesitate to discipline you, leave you high and dry, and take advantage until they render you no longer needed, i.e., we recently had two members released. The bargained contract between the UAW and your employer are the rules established for fairness (or as close to fairness as possible). If you are not following this, you are hurting your fellow Union members. Every time an employee does a “favor” for a manager, such as a task that is outside their job description, or an extra run in order to avoid mandatory OT, is it noted and chalked up as evidence that jobs can be eliminated and workers reduced. Every break you cut short, every time you start working before you’re on the clock, it pads the company’s bottom line while chipping away at your own potential income and job security. So if you think the actions of one person -- your actions -- can’t hurt the Union, you are wrong. Maintaining the rights we have depends on each one of us upholding the Union contracts. Continuing to cover for management -- by breaking the contract -- will only increase the number of workers on lay-off. Think about the job you have now … why do you think it exists? A need was created and - and you are being paid to fill it! Jobs and stable incomes go away when workers are willing to do more work for the same pay. Strength in SOLIDARITY is the strength that built our Union. Standing up for what is right -- not what is easiest/most convenient/best for yourself in the short-term -- is what is needed the most. So don’t just wear a red shirt on Solidarity Wednesdays, take opportunities to bolster our Union rights every day: · Put in committee calls if something isn’t right. · Do the job as assigned and avoid the shortcuts that undermine everyone’s safety and employment. · Honor your other workers by standing up for them or giving them a heads-up about a situation when you notice they are being exploited by the bosses. Just don’t remain silent. Don’t take other people’s or management’s word about what is allowed or not. Create a better working environment by strengthening your Union. We must also stand in solidarity in this moment with our Asian-American neighbors, as acts of violence have increased at a devastating rate over the last year and especially in recent months, when AAPI women have become the target of hate-mongers. Speak out against racism, xenophobia, and misogyny wherever you see it, so that we may truly become a more UNITED States of America. In solidarity, February 2021 Hello Brothers and Sisters, February is Black History Month. President Gerald Ford, a Michigan native, helped with the recognition of this during a bicentennial celebration in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout history.” So I encourage everyone to take a moment and educate yourselves and others on Black History. If you don’t know why there is a “Black Lives Matter” foundation, please do actual research on the subject. The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 is just one example of horrible acts inflicted upon Black Americans, rarely included in our history books. Racial profiling is a real thing and often leads to violence against minorities. And yet, there are a multitude of examples of Black brilliance in our society right now, whether in the fight against COVID, in the new presidential cabinet or as poet laureates of the nation. History is in the making! February 1937 is also the month when the GM sit-down strike ended and helped the UAW become the bargaining agent for its members. The strike against horrible working conditions and unfair wages ended with workers winning better conditions, a 6% wage increase, and no retaliation against those who participated in the strike or joined the union. And for the Black workers who were relegated to sanitation duty, it provided them an opportunity to make a better wage by doing assembly line work. Remembering that it is the UNITED Auto Workers is important. The more we stand together the harder it is to break us. Standing together is THE most important thing. Nothing will be gained, only lost, if people are selfish and only worry about themselves. Letting managers pick and choose priority jobs for employees without appropriate seniority undermines all that we have worked toward to gain equality and honor longevity in the workplace. Though you may be a favorite today, we know the whims of management change with the wind and tomorrow it may be you that is passed over for a benefit you deserve, despite how hard you work or how long you have been on the job. Another way to weaken solidarity is taking shortcuts at work. Shortcuts are selfish and usually unsafe. Shortcuts will lead to injury, broken inventory, extra work for others, tension between workers and overall increased frustration in the workplace. So please follow your safe operating practices and your job element sheet so we can keep our customers loyal and each other safe. Speaking of solidarity, please be honest when talking to your bargaining team so they can represent you to the best of their ability. If you fail to relate important parts of the story or misrepresent your role in the situation to your committeeperson, it provides management with all the ammunition they need to dismiss your claim. We can deal with whatever happened and make the best of it if we know exactly what occurred. If we build a case on false information, there is no way we can win the grievance. Remember to look at your union information boards for union activities! Participation in membership events helps us to build a stronger, more cohesive union that preserves the things the matter most: wages, benefits, improved working conditions and EQUALITY. in Solidarity December 2020Happy Holidays Union Brothers and Sisters, We have a newly elected United States President and as with any leader, a person chooses to be a leader for a reason. Biden has stated his intentions to alleviate inequity, unite our communities, and promote justice and equality. But no one can do it alone - WE must do OUR part to help make changes to improve our world. We also have a new plant manager. Now is the time to call on all of our leaders to be inclusive, value People before profits and build coalitions. More than ever, we have the potential to be heard by the folks in charge, whether here at home or in Washington, D.C. Labor has won a sympathetic ear in the White House, and we must keep this momentum going. Simply electing pro-worker candidates to office does not mean that all is good and great. Unfairness, discrimination and exploitation still exists. We must stand up for everyone's rights, especially those who have suffered the most, been pushed out of the way and vilified - not just over the past four years, but over the last 400 years of our history. Hopefully our leaders will take the necessary steps to bring all of us into the process. We are fortunate that “The Squad" of progressive congresswomen got re-elected and a new member was added. #TheSquad now consists of Rashida Tlaib- Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez- New York, Ilhan Omar- Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley- Massachusetts and Cori Bush-Missouri. These are leaders who stand for Labor causes, as well as Medicare for all, a living wage, stopping global warming, ending systemic racism, and forgiving student debt. Let’s hold these and all other leaders who represent us accountable to the People first. Being part of a Union, I hope that everyone takes steps to unite, in our plant and in our country. Solidarity is the only way forward. And speaking of togetherness, while I want us to be united metaphorically, what I’d really like is for us to stay six feet apart literally and follow other guidelines put in place by the CDC. Sadly, we are entering into a season that this year will be more defined by separation than by gathering together. While many of us long for the company and warmth of our families and friends in these chaotic times, we know that the best way to show our love for each other will be to keep our get-togethers small in order to keep each one of us safe. The scientists who study pandemics have warned these coming months hold the potential of sparking the biggest outbreak of coronavirus yet, which puts not only Grandma and Grandpa at risk, but our plant, our company and our national economy. Another massive shut-down would be painful for everyone and some businesses would not survive. We all must make difficult decisions to keep ourselves healthy and employed. The good news is, as far as I know, Cyber Monday has not been canceled! (Please don’t use Amazon.) Take care of yourself and your loved ones. September 2020I would like to recognize all Union members who won and will serve until 2023: Yvonne Vincent - President These are all the people who have stepped up and volunteered their time to try and make our workplace better and our Union stronger. They will need your support and help in order to accomplish this. This means knowing your rights under the Contract. This means not doing special favors for your supervisor. This means looking out for your fellow coworkers and not doing what benefits just you. I would also like to thank Nancy Munchbach for almost two decades of Solidarity and Union services as our Financial Secretary. Her leadership and institutional knowledge was a great benefit to our Local. We need to build Solidarity and stand up for each other, not just in the Plant, but also in our communities. Most importantly while we have Leadership’s ear (within GM, within the city, within the state), support civil rights. Be antiracist (an active upstander) instead of nonracist (a passive bystander). Let it be known that there is not equality in the world. Demand accountability for the anti-Blackness that killed George Floyd, Ahmed Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, Kendrell Watkins, Ramon Lopez, Dion Johnson, Julian Lewis and Damian Daniels, and paralyzed Jacob Blake. Call your government. Write a letter to Congress. Educate yourself. Join the struggle to create a better world. At the same time, our nation is mourning the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a valiant champion for Labor rights. Ginsberg wrote a vehement dissent against the decision of the conservative majority on the Supreme Court in 2018 when it ruled against employees who wanted to collectively sue their employers. The employers forced take-it-or-leave-it Labor contracts upon the employees that had mandatory arbitration clauses. Ginsberg wrote that requiring these employees to try their cases one-by-one, instead as a collective group, violated federal Labor law and worker rights. The current administration in the White House has stacked the Supreme Court with the kind of judges who prioritize the interests and profits of corporations over the rights of workers. They are now making every effort to push through another Union-busting judge nominee before Election Day, despite the GOP’s promise to never confirm a new justice in the last year of a presidency. Please Vote November 3, 2020, for people who will help create an inclusive world and support strong Unions, workers rights and other Labor causes. (If you are voting via absentee ballot, make sure you request your ballot ASAP if you have not done so already. You may drop your sealed and signed absentee ballot at an official dropbox location anytime before Nov. 3 or you may mail in your ballot up to one week before Election Day to ensure it arrives before Nov. 3.) Look at your Union bulletin boards for official Union updates! (For resources, click on the links in this article at www.lansinglabornews.org) In Solidarity June 2020Hello Brothers and Sisters, The state primary is Aug. 4 and I encourage all members to cast their votes -- not only for these offices, but also for your Local Union leaders on July 16th (from to 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Union Hall or from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in front of the Plant cafeteria). The run-off date, if needed, is July 23 at the same times and places. I would like to recognize all Union members who won by acclamation and will serve until 2023: Yvonne Vincent - President Mandy DeMars -Recording Secretary Jean Duchemin - Sergeant-at-Arms Randy Wickham - Guide Arniece “Poochie” Stephenson - GM Chairperson Mandy DeMars - District 1 Committee Person Jean Duchemin - District 2 Committee Person Amy Wood - Eurest Chairperson Justice Coleman - By Laws Chairperson Jeremy Jackson - Community Action Program Chairperson Jean Duchemin - Education Chairperson Mandy DeMars - Recreation Chairperson Jason Elston - Union Label Chairperson These are all the people who have stepped up and volunteered their time to try and make our workplace better and our Union stronger. They will need your support and help in order to accomplish this. This means knowing your rights under the Contract. This means not doing special favors for your supervisor. This means looking out for your fellow coworkers and not doing what just benefits you. We need to build solidarity and stand up for each other, not just in the Plant, but also in our communities. Take part in recreational events that we host. Buy American/Union-made products. Vote in all elections, not just “the big one.” Volunteer in your community. Thank a Veteran or a Peace Corps worker. And right now, most importantly while we have Leadership’s ear (within GM, within the city, within the state), support civil rights. Be antiracist (an active upstander) instead of nonracist (a passive bystander). Let it be known that there is not equality in the world. Demand accountability for the anti-Blackness that killed George Floyd, Ahmed Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and so many others. Go to a rally. Call your government. Write a letter to Congress. Educate yourself. Join the struggle to create a better world. (For resources, click on the links in this article at www.lansinglabornews.org) In Solidarity, Yvonne Vincent February 2020Congratulations to all the members retiring under the attrition program. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your new freedom and being your own boss. I would also like to welcome and congratulate the new members to our Local. As the circle of work life turns, we are regrettably losing history and knowledge from the retiring members. If you find yourself working in a department with someone new, please take time to welcome them and to give them pointers if it could help them out. All knowledge is precious and the more you can get/give/retain, the stronger our union becomes. We are all on the same side of “a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s pay”. This is the objective of the Labor Movement. So, please take time to get to know your coworkers, help them out, educate them on the contract, stand up for one another and build solidarity. And if you feel like you can strengthen our union in a leadership role - please join in the election process. Remember to look at your union information boards! -YVONNE VINCENT, PRESIDENT December 2019 Happy Holidays Brothers and Sisters. I would like to thank All of the supporters who helped us in our time of need. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your donated items. Thank you for your patience. Your solidarity helped keep our spirits strong. Members, when you are going to make a purchase, please take into consideration the businesses that supported us. The 40 day strike has caused a lot of work in our plant. We are in emergency status and working 7 days a week. Over 30 new temporary workers were brought in to help out along with running a very lightly staffed 3rd shift. Please members try to be good role models for the temporary workers. We know how management can be, so be patient and look out for one another. Please everyone enjoy your holidays in a safe way. Don't forget to look at your union communication boards for updates September 2019Dear 1753 Brothers and Sisters, Labor Day has come and gone, but the reason why we honor those people who fought for workers rights needs not to be forgotten. The struggle continues today for fair treatment, reasonable wages, and benefits. These are some of the discussions that the UAW will be bringing up in Contract negotiations. Our contract ends Sept. 14th 11:59 pm. Yes, the parties can extend negotiations....... but the UAW is very angry. Closings of General Motor Plants, temporary worker status for 3+ years, outsourcing skill trades work, more and more vehicles being built in Mexico, wanting the employee to help pay for health care coverage ( when GM makes Billions every quarter ) These things make me angry and your leadership team angry. We voted 96.4 % to stand with the UAW negotiation team. I hope that the Contract Negotiation team gets us a good contract and by us standing in solidarity, we can help them. Please come to your Membership meetings. Information that has to do with your Union gets passed there. The Union information boards also hold good union business for you to read. in Solidarity, Yvonne Vincent April 2019I hope everyone had a good Spring holiday. Our Chaplain, Isabel Baker, has now become Ordained making it easier to assist in hospitals, jail or assisted living. She is doing a great job and can help anyone in need of her services. It is also time to start putting in your Local Demands. Forms can be found in the Work Center and also turned in there. The deadline for accepting demands is May 31st. February 2019As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important to honor the contributions of our strong American heros, from Harriet Tubman to Martin Luther King, Jr. to Shirley Chisholm to Ruben Burks. and Lansing’s own Malcolm X. Outspoken leaders often face resistance both from the powers that be and from within their own ranks. However, despite the adversity and challenges they face, those who are passionate about their cause keep going. They often fail and face retribution, but they continue to do the right thing. The courage of the Flint sit-down strikers in brought about better working conditions, higher wages and improved safety. Most importantly, the few workers who had the audacity and conviction to take action (less than 10% of the plant was unionized) impacted not only their site, but legitimized union agreements at all GM plants. I encourage all of us at the Lansing CCA to have the courage to be a leader. Though retaliation is prohibited by our national agreement, backlash is always a risk. However, if we all follow the examples set by the leaders who came before us and are not afraid to do what is right, our union will be stronger. We must all come together for our common good in order to sustain our rights and protect the workers who come after us. In conclusion, I would like to thank our current leaders , our past leaders and our future leaders. Thank you to the families of Ray Whitford and Hollis Barker who made sacrifices so they could lead our Local. They will be missed.
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